The most bothersome symptoms of seasonal allergy. How to deal with them?

The arrival of spring means blooming trees and sunny weather. However, if you are one of the millions of seasonal allergy sufferers, this period is also a prelude to persistent symptoms each year. Learn how to effectively deal with the symptoms accompanying seasonal allergies.

What is seasonal allergy?

Allergy, by definition, is an abnormal and overreaction of the immune system to generally harmless substances called allergens. A seasonal allergy, often called allergic rhinitis or hay fever, is an allergy that occurs at a certain time of the year – especially in spring, summer or fall, depending on the substance causing your persistent symptoms.

The immune system of allergic people treats these molecules (called allergens) as if they were a threat and releases chemicals (including histamine) into the bloodstream to defend itself against them. It is the release of these substances that causes the typical symptoms of seasonal allergy to appear.

Seasonal allergy – an epidemic of the XNUMXst century

The first symptoms of seasonal allergy usually appear as early as preschool age. Unlike many diseases that medical advances have been able to contain and even overcome, the number of seasonal allergies and other allergic diseases is increasing worldwide. It is estimated that as many as 600 million people in the world suffer from allergic rhinitis, and this number is constantly growing – experts from allergy societies assume that in 2050 every second person may be allergic to at least one type of allergen. [1]

On the one hand, scientists see the cause in environmental factors, but on the other hand, the risk of allergies is also increased by increased hygiene standards – the cleaner and slower our environment is from harmful microorganisms, the greater the risk of further allergy development.

Moreover, rising temperatures around the world significantly extend pollen seasons for many plants. Higher temperatures also facilitate the spread of “foreign” plants in Europe. This applies, for example, to ragweed, which in the United States is one of the main triggers of allergies, and the high concentration of pollen grains of this plant has now been observed for over 10 years also throughout Europe. [2]

What are the common symptoms of seasonal allergies?

Allergy symptoms often appear suddenly, usually within seconds or minutes of being exposed to the allergen, and last as long as the person is exposed to the specific allergen. Moreover, these symptoms appear at about the same time each year. A person with seasonal allergies may also notice that their symptoms depend on the weather – they are usually less bothersome after rain, when pollen is much less in the air. The symptoms of hay fever often resemble those of the common cold, which include:

1. Swelling of the nasal mucosa, feeling of nose blockage
2. A watery runny nose 
3. Red, watery and itchy eyes – the so-called allergic conjunctivitis 
4. Scratching throat 
5. Itching in the ears 
6. Cough 
7. Wheezing
8. A feeling of tightness in the chest 
9. Deterioration of exercise tolerance 
10. Headache 
11. Low concentration 
12. Sleep problems [3] 

Allergic seasons and periods of dust in wind-pollinated plants in Poland

Spring is undoubtedly the peak season for inhalation allergies, however, allergenic pollen can be a problem at other times of the year as well. If a person is allergic to only one irritant, allergic symptoms may only occur during the same weeks or months of each year. However, if the symptoms are caused by several different allergens, they may persist almost all year round.

Plants spread their pollen through insects or wind. Insect pollen plants are much less likely to cause symptoms because their pollen is relatively heavy, sticky and produced in much smaller amounts. Wind-pollinated plants, in turn, emit very large amounts of pollen to compensate for possible losses. For example, one ear of rye releases more than four million grains of pollen!

The dominant allergens causing seasonal allergies in Poland are, according to the frequency of occurrence, grass pollen (meadow grass, cocksfoot grass, meadow fescue, timothy grass), cereals, birch, mugwort, alder and hazel, followed by nettle pollen, quinoa, leaf plantain and ragweed. .

The pollen calendar in Poland is opened by alder and hazel, whose pollen season falls on the first months of the year – January, February and March. April and May are pollen days for birch, oak, beech, willow, ash and poplar. One of the more allergenic plants – grasses and grains, dust mainly from May to July. For people allergic to quinoa, plantain and mugwort, the period from July to September may be the most difficult. [4] [5]

What is the diagnosis of seasonal allergy?

The diagnosis of seasonal allergies should always begin with a visit to a specialist and a detailed interview. Various diagnostic tests are available to help identify the type or types of pollen a person is allergic to. The tests include skin tests, provocation tests and, if necessary, a blood test to assess the level of IgE antibodies.

Skin prick tests are one of the most frequently performed tests to diagnose allergies. During this test, a doctor or nurse applies a drop of allergen-containing liquid to the skin (usually on the forearm or back) and gently pricks it. You then wait for about 15 minutes to see if a small red, swollen lump, called an allergic blister, appears on your skin. Its appearance may indicate an allergy to the tested antigen. These tests are used in the diagnosis of hypersensitivity not only to seasonal allergens, but also to house dust mites, mold fungi, animal hair allergens and food allergens. [6]

How is seasonal allergy treated?

If you are prone to pollen-related allergic reactions, it’s important to take the right steps quickly and know what measures can help relieve your symptoms. Pollen allergy usually lasts a lifetime and usually gets worse without treatment. Seasonal allergy is not a trivial disease – if left untreated, it can even lead to the development of asthma. There are many ways to treat seasonal allergies, depending on the severity of your condition.

The key is, of course, to reduce exposure to allergens – but we know that this is not always possible. Mild to moderate allergies can be treated with medication by mouth or inhalation. More severe cases may require treatment with different drug combinations. In each such case, the doctor decides about the right method of treatment.

When allergic symptoms also affect the eyes, one of the solutions that can bring relief may be the regular use of eye drops such as EKTIN, which not only supports the treatment of symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis, but can also be used preventively. They quickly soothe eye irritation, moisturize the surface of the eye, and thanks to the content of ectoine and hyaluronic acid, they improve the quality of the tear film. These ingredients protect the eye against the harmful effects of allergens and other external factors, and support the regeneration process of the irritated conjunctiva. EKTIN eye drops can also be used by people wearing contact lenses without fear.

How to effectively relieve allergic symptoms?

The most effective method of avoiding the symptoms of seasonal allergy is primarily – in addition to pharmacological treatment – to avoid pollen. However, it is not easy, especially as they float hundreds of kilometers in the air and can cause persistent symptoms, even if the plants in question have not yet bloomed in our place of residence. However, there are several ways to improve the quality of life of allergy sufferers:

1. Learn about the pollen calendar where you live to avoid exposure to pollen as much as possible. 
2. If high pollen levels are expected on a given day, start taking allergy relief medications before symptoms appear.
3. Avoid being outdoors between 5:00 and 10:00 a.m. – this is when the highest concentration of pollen in the air is observed.
4. On days with high pollen levels, people with hay fever should avoid strenuous exercise, especially outdoor exercise. 
5. After returning home, take a shower to cleanse your skin and hair of pollen.
6. Wear sunglasses on spring and summer walks. They act as a kind of barrier to prevent the pollen from coming into contact with the eyes. 
7. Take care of your nose hygiene. Every morning and at bedtime, rinse with saline, and blow your nose regularly throughout the day in case any allergen gets into your nose.